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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
TSHOLOTSHO FC will be hoping to register their first win of the season when they take on Highlanders in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.

Tsholotsho are confident of upsetting the beleaguered Bulawayo giants, whose recent performances have been shambolic.

The table anchors go into today’s match with their confidence high following a 1-1 draw against champions Caps United in their last league match where they came from a goal down to earn a point.

Darlington Dodo, the Tsholotsho coach, said a victory against Bosso “will go a long way” in towards their survival journey.

“We’re good to go and very confident of getting a positive result. Our preparations have been going on well and winning this game will go a long way in our survival race. We’ve maximised from the Heroes and Defence Forces’ holidays as we trained hard and some of our players with knocks recovered. We travel a lot and the break afforded players time to refresh and recharge their batteries. We know Highlanders are a big side, but we will not be bullied by them. We will fight for maximum points,” said Dodo.

Tsholotsho cancelled a 10th minute Ronald Pfumbidzai goal in the 85th minute through goalkeeper Chang Mariyon, who converted from the penalty spot after Hardlife Zvirekwi had handled inside the box.

The Zhwane Boys have nine points from 21 outings and if they are to spring a shocker and get out of the relegation hole, they need to start picking up maximum points.

With Highlanders struggling and their Dutch coach Erol Akbay admitting that they need to find a winning formula soon, Tsholotsho will fancy their chances.

In the second leg of last season, Tsholotsho gave Bosso a shock 2-1 beating at Barbourfields.

Bosso laboured to a 2-1 win over Tsholotsho in the reverse fixture, but the Zhwane Boys will be looking to Mariyon, Xolani Ndlovu, defender Arnold Chaka, midfielders Lucky Nyathi and Canaan Nkomo as well as striker Nqobile Mpala to upset the applecart.

Highlanders lost their last league game 0-2 away to ZPC Kariba and the last time they played at Barbourfields, they put up a lethargic display in a goalless draw against Harare City.

Despite being a distant seventh with 32 points, 13 behind leaders Chicken Inn, Akbay thinks they are still in the title race.

Since announcing his intentions to leave Highlanders last month, Akbay is yet to win a match in three outings.

Bosso drew 0-0 at home against Harare City and lost 0-2 to ZPC Kariba in league matches. They were then clobbered 3-0 by a Zimbabwe Defence Forces Select last Tuesday, a day after their developmental side Bosso 90 beat Dynamos 2-0 in a Heroes’ Day celebratory match.

Rahman Kutsanzira could return to action this afternoon to inspire Bosso.

Meanwhile, Dynamos come to Bulawayo tomorrow to take on How Mine at Barbourfields Stadium.

Rearranged PSL fixtures

Today: Highlanders v Tsholotsho FC (Barbourfields), Caps United v Black Rhinos (National Sports Stadium).

Tomorrow: How Mine v Dynamos (Barbourfields).

Table

P     W     D     L     F     A     GD     Pts
Chicken Inn     22     14     3     5     24     9     15     45
Ngezi Platinum Stars     22     13     4     5     39     23     16     43
FC Platinum     22     11     9     2     24     12     12     42
*Dynamos     19     12     3     4     28     16     12     39
ZPC Kariba     22     10     5     7     22     17     5     35
How Mine     21     9     7     5     16     14     2     34
Highlanders     20     9     5     6     20     17     3     32
Black Rhinos     21     9     4     8     23     17     6     31
Triangle United     22     7     7     8     19     22     -3     28
Bulawayo City     21     8     3     10     23     25     -2     27
Harare City     22     6     7     9     15     15     0     25
*Chapungu     21     6     7     8     13     16     -3     25
Caps United     17     6     6     5     24     18     6     24
Yadah FC     22     6     6     10     17     26     -9     24
Shabanie Mine     22     5     7     10     13     22     -9     22
Hwange     21     5     5     10     17     26     -9     20
Bantu Rovers     21     3     3     15     19     40     -21     12
Tsholotsho FC     21     0     9     12     10     31     -21     9

*match abandoned

@ZililoR